US blindsides states with surprise settlement in Live Nation/Ticketmaster trial
Source: Ars Technica
Background
The Trump administration agreed to stop pursuing a breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster as part of a settlement that blindsided state attorneys general in the middle of a trial. Attorneys general from 27 states and the District of Columbia are continuing to pursue the case without the U.S. government, at least for now.
The U.S. Department of Justice and most U.S. states sued Live Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary in 2024, during the Biden administration. The lawsuit alleged that Live Nation has a monopoly on “the delivery of nearly all live music in America today,” and asked a federal court to order the divestiture of Ticketmaster.
Source: Ars Technica
Settlement Surprise
The case went to trial, and testimony began last week in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. On March 8, the U.S. and Live Nation informed the court of a proposed settlement, taking state attorneys general by surprise. The judge presiding over the case reportedly said in court that the way the settlement was announced “is absolutely unacceptable.”
State Response
States reserving the right to continue litigation filed a motion for mistrial, arguing they need time to prepare for a new trial and evaluate the terms of the settlement between the U.S. and Live Nation. They warned that the “sudden disappearance” of the U.S. from the case could give the jury the incorrect impression that Live Nation’s antitrust violations have been cured or resolved, or that the proceeding plaintiff states’ claims lack merit.
The motion for a mistrial was supported by the following jurisdictions:
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Illinois
- Kansas
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Relevant documents: